CH 98

Finally, the day of the showdown had dawned.

I headed to the temple of Elium with Kyle.

“You know. The part I didn’t understand the most while reading a novel…”

I said to Kyle while staring blankly at the scenery outside the window in the carriage.

“Was the reason the main character, who has enough power and ability, disguises oneself and crawls into a dangerous situation when they take out something from the enemy. But actually, it made a little sense. If you go through the front door like this…”

A small smile crept across Kyle’s lips as he stared at me.

“It’s more tense and burdensome.”

“But you don’t have to worry about someone going to cut your throat in the dark.”

“…Your choice of terms is really blunt.”

When I shuddered my shoulders, he told me not to worry.

“I’m the Crown Prince of the Empire. No one can disobey me. Even if it’s someone from the temple.”

“That’s right. And I…”

I was speechless, recalling an item I bought at the <Shop> before leaving the Imperial Palace.

Although I bought Oman’s product that had been in the market for so long, there was a fatal flaw in how to use the product.

“Why are you blurting out your words?”

“…It hurts just thinking about it.”

There is such a thing, Your Highness the Crown Prince.

After a while, the carriage stopped in front of the temple. He escorted me out of the carriage first. I took his hand and carefully set my foot on the ground.

I was wearing a black veil that covered my entire head and face, but contrary to that, I was wearing a gorgeous red dress, which looked very fancy.

Is it because of the unusual clothes? Fortunately, no one recognized me.

He took my hand and walked into the temple. High-ranking priests greeted us.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, welcome.”

“The blessings of the Nine Gods be upon Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“The Saintess is waiting for you.”

‘…Her holy power hasn’t even been checked, yet she’s already a saintess?’

It’s probably Heinz’s work. With Reihausd pushed out, it must be completely his world.

“But the person next to you…”

When someone asked a question, curious about me, who was standing next to Kyle, he answered firmly.

“My lover.”

The high-ranking priest asked with bewildered eyes.

“Your… lover?”

It’s probably the first time one has heard that Kyle has a lover.

It hasn’t been long since rumors spread that he had a relationship with the former saintess or that he was getting married, though he saw women as rocks.

“Why. Anything to say about my lover?”

“N-Nothing.”

The high-ranking priest looked at me suspiciously, yet he couldn’t say anything at Kyle’s sharp gaze.

Kyle took my hand and started walking. I felt a little uncomfortable, but I didn’t bother to remove his hand.

I slowly looked around as I walked so as not to arouse suspicion. The temple, which I used to walk every day as if it were my home, felt unfamiliar, perhaps because it had been a long time since I had visited.

“…It’ll be okay, right?”

I asked Kyle in a small voice as if I was whispering.

“No one would dare to unveil my lover.”

Kyle responded with a snort.

Well, no matter how strong the influence of the temple was, it was the age of absolute monarchy. Besides, isn’t the Crown Prince the only member of the Imperial Family now that the Emperor is absent? It’s not a business that can be confirmed by a mere high-ranking priest.

We went straight to the outdoor terrace where Camilla was waiting.

As I walked into the hallway, I saw Camilla, who sat near the round tea table, standing up. Her body was draped in a saintess’ dress similar to the design I used to wear.

[I’m just a priestess, though… I won’t fit to be a friend of the Saintess.]

I still remember the humble and nice Camilla’s innocent smile.

Compared to what I saw at the end, she was an acting genius.

I could feel the edge of one of my lips rising crookedly.

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, looks at Camilla with a sharp gaze.]

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, growls.]

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, spits, ptooey.]

The Gods also didn’t seem to like Camilla’s existence, which had been interfering with the oracle. I mean, Camilla is the heir of the two Gods who rebelled against them.

“Welcome. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Camilla said, looking straight at Kyle with the confidence of the female lead.

In the original story, Kyle was interested in Camilla’s attitude.

He was both displeased and intrigued by her dual appearance, which was hard and business-like in front of him, who was a strong person, yet benevolent towards others, and then gradually became drawn to her.

‘But that is also just the prophecy.’

As Ren and Van said, I’m the one who changes the prophecy.

‘It won’t be the same as before, Camilla.’

“You’ve arrived. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Beside Camilla, Heinz bent down and greeted Kyle. Since the High Priest was absent, she seemed to be taking his place.

‘Originally, it was supposed to be Reihausd’s seat, though.’

When I thought of Reihausd, my clenched fist suddenly gained strength.

“But this person is…”

Heinz looked at me and blurted out his words.

“My lover.”

Kyle responded in a nonchalant tone.

In an instant, I saw Camilla harden her face.

Her complexion darkened noticeably, and her pupils shook in bewilderment.

In the original story, Kyle was aloof from all women and the only woman he was interested in was Camilla, so she didn’t seem to anticipate this situation.

She probably expected that Kyle wouldn’t have a partner.

“Your Highness’… lover?”

Camilla’s cold gaze turned to me.

She didn’t seem to recognize me, fortunately I was wearing a veil and a red dress that I didn’t normally wear.

“Yes. She came with me because she wanted to see the temple.”

Kyle replied firmly.

“My lover wore a veil because she’s very shy, so don’t mind her.”

“…Welcome to the temple.”

Camilla looked at me with the same bright smile she had before.

However, I could see the anxiety in her green eyes.

‘I won’t be fooled anymore.’

I bowed my head silently to express my greeting.

Soon after, we sat around the tea table.

“How is His Imperial Majesty’s condition?”

“There isn’t much of a difference.”

“Perhaps… he may need holy power.”

Taking over Heinz and Kyle’s conversation, Camilla opened her mouth.

She said, tucking the beautiful blonde hair behind her ear.

“Fortunately, my holy power is different from that of the previous saintesses. Maybe that will help.”

Then Heinz nodded his head and said.

“That’s right. If it’s the holy power of the Saintess who saved two dead Golden Crowns, even His Imperial Majesty the Emperor will recover soon.”

Following Heinz’s words, Camilla smiled lightly.

“After the turn of the urgent sick people in the temple that you can see right now ends, I will go straight to the Imperial Palace.”

I felt a sense of déjà vu as I recalled a scene from the original story from her words.

Camilla’s line seems to be similar when the Empress was upset and needed a saintess.

‘Then Kyle threatened Camilla, saying, ‘Are you delaying the treatment of the Imperial Family for the sake of the sick people?’

However, Camilla fiercely confronted Kyle, saying that there was no regard in life. It was also a turning point in deepening Kyle’s interest in her.

“Let it be, then.”

Yet Kyle’s reply was dry.

For an instant, I saw Camilla’s eyebrows twitch.

‘As expected…’

As I saw the original story, Camilla seemed to know the prophecy.

She expected the reaction she had predicted from Kyle, but as Kyle bounced it off again, she looked very bewildered.

“…Ah. Yes.”

It was great to see Camilla’s expression shake. There wasn’t a slightest gap on Kyle for her to dig.

Camilla, barely hiding her bewildered eyes, raised the teacup. And after she took a sip of tea, she looked at me and asked.

“By the way, doesn’t the Lady have tea?”

There was a strange hostility in her clear eyes.

It’s not like there was something in the tea, but she seemed to be trying to see my face at that time because I would have to lift my veil to drink it.

“My lover doesn’t like tea.”

Kyle answered for me.

I responded with a light laugh.

After a while, I got up from my seat as planned. Kyle glanced at Camilla and explained what my intention was.

“My fiancé wants to see the temple. Teatime seems a bit boring.”

“Then the Paladins will guide…”

“No. I’ll attach my soldiers.”

Heinz’s words were firmly rejected by Kyle.

I nodded my head, greeted them, and turned around. The voices of the three people talking behind me faded away.